Method and apparatus for cleaning and treating tubular goods

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for cleaning, treating and inspecting tubular goods including, without limitation, continuous tubing. Tubing is fed through a box-like housing having an inner chamber. As the tubing proceeds through the housing, the exterior surface of the tubing passes through an initial squeegee wiper to remove moisture, debris and environmental contaminants. Thereafter, the external surface of the pipe is washed using a high pressure liquid spray followed by another wiper squeegee and gas (typically air) dry station. After the pipe is sufficiently dry, liquid rust inhibitor and/or other treating fluid can be applied to the outer surface of the pipe before the pipe exits the housing.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION

PRIORITY OF U.S. PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION SER. NO. 61/707,780,FILED SEP. 28, 2012, INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, IS HEREBYCLAIMED.

STATEMENTS AS TO THE RIGHTS TO THE INVENTION MADE UNDER FEDERALLYSPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

NONE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for cleaning,treating and inspecting tubulars including, without limitation,continuous tubing strings.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

It is customary to clean and treat the outer surface of tubular goods(including, without limitation, continuous, spooled or coiled tubing)after service. Such cleaning and treating is typically performed toprotect the integrity of the tubing and to prolong the tubing'spotential service life. Such cleaning and treating is typicallyperformed while tubing is being re-spooled after being retrieved from awell, or when tubing is transferred from one spool to another.

Current techniques to enable such cleaning and treatment include passingthe tubing over a stationary, manually-operated “wand” as the tubing isbeing re-spooled after service. Such conventional cleaning and treatingtechniques are time consuming and labor intensive, do not facilitateeasy and efficient inspection of the pipe, and often produce less thanoptimal results.

Thus, there is a need for an improved method and apparatus for cleaning,treating and inspecting tubular goods, including continuous tubing. Theapparatus should be self-contained, and easy to install and use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for cleaning,treating and inspecting tubular goods including, without limitation,continuous tubing. In a preferred embodiment, the present inventioncomprises a closeable box disposed in a stationary position around theouter surface of continuous tubing, typically as such tubing is beingre-spooled after service.

The present invention is not tied to any particular arrangement of reelout and spool up configuration. During re-spooling operations,continuous tubing can be retrieved from a wellbore and re-installed on alarge spool or reel. In other circumstances, it can be advantages totransfer continuous tubing from one reel to another; during suchre-spooling operations, spools are typically situated approximately10-15 feet apart.

In a preferred embodiment, the box-like housing of the present inventionis installed at a desired location prior to continuous tubing beingspooled on a reel. Such continuous tubing passes through said box-likehousing, typically at a speed of about 100 feet per minute. The housingcan be beneficially disposed on a frame assembly between such spools sothat the tubing can easily pass through the housing as the tubing movesfrom one spool to the other (or when being re-spooled after beingretrieved from a downhole wellbore).

In a preferred embodiment, as continuous tubing passes through thebox-like housing of the present invention, the tubing encounters thefollowing processes deployed in sequence within said housing:

Wipers or Squeegees: The tubing first encounters rubber wafer squeegeesin the box, which wipe and dry the external surface of the tubing. Suchsqueegees are selected and disposed to be a snug fit around the tubing,so that substantially all of the environmental moisture and dirt isremoved from the tubing immediately prior to high pressure washing.

High Pressure Water Wash: The tubing next passes through V-shapedcollars providing high pressure water jets directed toward the tubing.The water can be beneficially supplemented or replaced by other liquids.

Tight Fit Wipers: The tubing is then dried by passing it throughtight-fit (typically rubber) pipe wipers. Such wipers beneficiallyremove substantially all of the external surface moisture on the tubingfollowing the high pressure washing operation.

Blow Dry: The tubing is then completely dried by subjecting it to anair-driven blow dry. In another embodiment, the air dry is supplementedwith or substituted for nitrogen dry. The tubing is substantially dry asit passes immediately to receive a coating of rust inhibitor, the nextoperation.

Rust Inhibitor Coat: The tubing next receives a coat of rust inhibitor.In a preferred embodiment, the tubing first passes over and through arust inhibitor coating spray delivered by a liquid mist; and then overand through an industrial sponge into which the inhibitor treatment hasbeen pumped, allowing the inhibitor to be further wiped onto the tubing.

Loose-Fitting Wipers: The tubing finally passes over loose-fittingrubber and sponge fabric wipers, configured to remove excess rustinhibitor that may be dripping or running off the tubing, but leavinginhibitor still smeared over the outer surface of the tubing.

It will be appreciated that inventive housing allows tubing to be verydry after the blow dry stage. The tubing then receives rust inhibitor orother treating agent immediately, before any oxidation or othercorrosion has had any chance to affect the outside surface of thetubing. This feature of the inventive coil tubing box is a significantimprovement over conventional pipe cleaning and treating methods, whereseparate operations of washing, drying and rust-inhibiting aresignificantly longer apart in time, and not done as effectively.

The advantages supplied by the inventive coil tubing box thus includethat (1) it is self-contained and modular, (2) cleaning operations aremore effective, and (3) the life of the tubing is extended because rustinhibitor coating or other beneficial treating agent is appliedimmediately after the pipe is dried, when it can be most effective.

Accessories may also be provided for the inventive housing of thepresent invention. For example, fork lift pads may be specially designedto assist moving such coil tubing box.

An arrangement of cables, pulleys, turnbuckles and/or extensible rodsmay also be designed to hold the box-like housing of the presentinvention firmly in place in an operational position. In this way,precautions can be taken so that the box does not move while tubing ispassing through said box-like housing, also ensuring that such tubingpasses as naturally as possible through the box-like housing (i.e. notplaced under displacement, transverse loading or bending stress as it isfed in and out of the box). Pulley configurations may be designed toallow the housing to use its own weight to keep it centered and orientedat the correct position between the spools.

In another embodiment, an arrangement of compensating springs may beused with cables, pulleys and turnbuckles to keep the box-like housingat an optimum location between the coil tubing spools to avoid anybending, shear or torsional stresses being placed on tubing as it passesthrough the housing. In this configuration, said box-like housing issuspended and “floats” between the spools as the coil tubing passes fromspool to spool and through the housing. The cables and pulleys allow thehousing to be suspended and move vertically relative to the spools, soas to allow compensating springs, responsive to sensors, to find and setthe housing at the “neutral point” of suspension, at which the tubing isunder no bending, shear or torsional forces as it passes through thehousing.

It will be appreciated that the inventive coil tubing box has manypossible operational environments, and this disclosure is not limited toany particular one. For example, the housing could be deployed in awarehouse or shop, or in the field at or near a land well or acorresponding offshore drilling structure, or other remote location.

It is to be observed that jointed pipe can be fed through a variant ofthe housing of the present invention rather than continuous tubing. Insuch alternative embodiments, the pipe could move or the housing couldbe caused to move relative so such pipe, or both. The high pressurewater wash operation could be substituted for other treatments.Additional or fewer operations could be incorporated into theself-contained box of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS/FIGURES

The foregoing summary, as well as any detailed description of thepreferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunctionwith the drawings and figures contained herein. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, the drawings and figures show certainpreferred embodiments. It is understood, however, that the invention isnot limited to the specific methods and devices disclosed in suchdrawings or figures.

FIG. 1 depicts an overhead perspective view of the cleaning and treatingassembly of the present invention with an open configuration.

FIG. 2 depicts an overhead perspective view of the cleaning and treatingassembly of the present invention in a closed configuration.

FIG. 3 depicts an overhead view of the cleaning and treating assembly ofthe present invention with an open configuration.

FIG. 4 depicts a bottom perspective view of the cleaning and treatingassembly of the present invention in a closed configuration.

FIG. 5 depicts an end view of the cleaning and treating assembly of thepresent invention with an open configuration.

FIG. 6 depicts front view of the cleaning and treating assembly of thepresent invention with an open configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 depicts an overhead perspective view of a cleaning and treatingassembly 100 of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, saidcleaning and treating assembly 100 comprises a box-like housing havingan upper housing lid 20 hingedly connected to lower housing base 10.Said upper housing lid 20 and lower housing base cooperate to form aninner chamber or void space within said box-like housing. An inlet isprovided in one side of said housing, and is in substantial linearalignment with an outlet on the opposite side of said housing. Asdepicted in FIG. 1, said upper housing lid 20 is shown in an openconfiguration.

In a preferred embodiment, an arrangement of cables, pulleys,turnbuckles and/or extensible rods may be designed to hold cleaning andtreating assembly 100 of the present invention firmly in place in anoperational position. As depicted in FIG. 1, cleaning and treatingassembly 100 is slideably mounted on substantially parallel mountingrails 300. Still referring to FIG. 1, a length of continuous tubing 200passes through cleaning and treating assembly 100; said continuoustubing 200 is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axisof cleaning and treating assembly 100, and substantially perpendicularto mounting rails 300.

It is to be observed that cleaning and treating assembly 100 remainssubstantially stationary while tubing 200 passes through the box-likehousing of the present invention. As such, tubing 200 passes asnaturally as possible through cleaning and treating assembly 100 (i.e.such tubing 200 not placed under displacement, transverse loading orbending stress as it is fed in and out of box-like housing). Pulleyconfigurations may be designed to allow cleaning and treating assembly100 to use its own weight to keep it centered and oriented at a desiredoperating position.

If desired, an arrangement of compensating springs may be used withcables, pulleys and/or turnbuckles to maintain positioning of cleaningand treating assembly 100 of the present invention at an optimum orpreferred location (such as, for example, between coiled tubing spools)in order to avoid any bending, shear or torsional stresses being placedon the tubing. In this manner, the modular and self-contained cleaningand treating assembly 100 can be suspended in order to “float” as coiledtubing passes through the housing of the present invention. Such cablesand pulleys allow the housing to be suspended and move vertically, so asto allow compensating springs, responsive to sensors, to find and setthe apparatus at a “neutral point” of suspension, at which the tubing isunder no bending, shear or torsional forces as it passes through thehousing.

Still referring to FIG. 1, lateral pipe alignment guide assemblies 30are disposed at both ends of box-like housing of cleaning and treatingassembly 100. In a preferred embodiment, said alignment guide assemblies30 comprise mounting bracket 31, upper guide wheel 32 and lower guidewheel 33. Said upper and lower guide wheels are rotatably mounted tomounting brackets 31 using transverse axles 34. Said lateral pipealignment guide assemblies 300 act to align and direct pipe 200 enteringand exiting box-like housing of cleaning and treating assembly 100.

A plurality of substantially parallel lower baffle walls 11 are disposedwithin housing base member 10. Similarly, a plurality of substantiallyparallel upper baffle walls 21 are disposed within housing lid member20. In a preferred embodiment, said upper baffles walls 21 and lowerbaffle walls 11 are substantially planar divider members thatsubstantially aligned with each other and have aligned notches 21 a and11 a, respectively, for accommodating continuous tubing 200. When saidlid housing lid member 20 is closed, said upper and lower baffle wallscooperate to form a plurality of substantially parallel walls definingsubstantially parallel and distinct chambers that are orientedsubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (and direction oftravel) of continuous tubing 200.

Still referring to FIG. 1, wafer-shaped squeegee wiper elements 50, 51and 52 can be disposed within certain desired chambers formed byopposing upper baffles walls 21 and lower baffle walls 11. In apreferred embodiment, said squeegee wiper elements are constructed ofrubber or other elastomeric material, or other material exhibitingdesired pipe wiping characteristics. Similarly, wafer-shaped applicatorelements 53, 54, 55 and 56 are likewise disposed within certain desiredchambers formed by opposing upper baffles walls 21 and lower bafflewalls 11. In a preferred embodiment, said applicator elements areconstructed of sponge material, or other material exhibiting desiredfluid application characteristics.

Substantially V-shaped lower member 61 is mounted within a chamberformed in lower housing base 10, while an opposing substantiallyV-shaped upper member 62 is mounted within an aligned chamber formed inhousing lid 20. Inlet port fitting 60 is mounted in proximity to saidV-shaped lower member 61 and provides a fluid inlet into the spaceformed between said opposing V-shaped members 61 and 62 when housing lid20 and housing base 10 are in a closed position. In a preferredembodiment, at least one wash nozzle is provided within said chamber;said nozzle is beneficially directed at the space formed between saidupper and lower V-shaped members 61 and 62, and is in fluidcommunication with inlet port fitting 60.

Similarly, substantially V-shaped lower member 71 is mounted within achamber formed in lower housing base 10, while an opposing substantiallyV-shaped upper member 72 is mounted within an aligned chamber formed inhousing lid 20. Inlet port fitting 70 is mounted in proximity to saidV-shaped lower member 71 and provides a fluid inlet into the spaceformed between said opposing V-shaped members 71 and 72. In a preferredembodiment, at least one gas jet is provided within said chamber; saidjet is beneficially directed at the space formed between said upper andlower V-shaped members 71 and 72, and is in fluid communication withinlet port fitting 70.

FIG. 2 depicts an overhead perspective view of cleaning and treatingassembly 100 of the present invention in a closed configuration. Asdepicted in FIG. 2, housing lid 20 is closed on housing base 10, therebyenclosing components disposed within the internal space defined by thebox-like housing of the present invention. If desired, a gasket orelastomeric material can be provides around the rim of housing lid 20,housing base 10, or both, in order to facilitate a fluid pressure sealat the junction between said members. Further, conventional latchingmeans, well known to those skilled in the art, can be provided to securesaid housing lid 20 and housing base 10 in a closed position whendesired.

Cleaning and treating assembly 100 is slideably mounted on substantiallyparallel mounting rails 300. A length of continuous tubing 200 passesthrough cleaning and treating assembly 100, and is orientedsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of cleaning and treatingassembly 100, and substantially perpendicular to mounting rails 300.Still referring to FIG. 2, lateral pipe alignment guide assemblies 30are disposed at both ends of box-like housing of cleaning and treatingassembly 100.

FIG. 3 depicts an overhead view of cleaning and treating assembly 100 ofthe present invention with housing lid member 20 in an openconfiguration. Cleaning and treating assembly 100 is slideably mountedon substantially parallel mounting rails 300. A length of continuoustubing 200 passes through cleaning and treating assembly 100, whilelateral pipe alignment guide assemblies 30 are disposed at both ends ofthe box-like housing of cleaning and treating assembly 100. A pluralityof substantially parallel lower baffle walls 11 are disposed withinhousing base member 10 and are oriented substantially perpendicular tothe direction of travel of continuous tubing 200. Although not visiblein FIG. 3, a plurality of substantially parallel upper baffle walls 21are likewise disposed within housing lid member 20.

FIG. 4 depicts a bottom perspective view of cleaning and treatingassembly 100 of the present invention in a closed configuration. Alength of continuous tubing 200 passes through box-like housing ofcleaning and treating assembly 100. Said tubing 200 is orientedsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of cleaning and treatingassembly 100, with lateral pipe alignment guide assemblies 30 disposedat both ends of said box-like housing of assembly 100. A length ofcontinuous tubing 200 passes through cleaning and treating assembly 100.Mounting rails 300 are not shown in FIG. 4 for clarity purposes;however, it is to be observed that said mounting rails 300 can beslideably received within lower mounting brackets 40. In a preferredembodiment, cleaning and treating assembly 100 is movable along thelength of said mounting rails 300 (not depicted in FIG. 4).

Still referring to FIG. 4, in a preferred embodiment, drain port 63 isprovided through the bottom surface of housing base member 10. Saiddrain port 63 permits the drainage and recovery of fluids (gases orliquids), additives and wash debris recovered from the chamber formed byopposing V-shaped members 61 and 62. Similarly, drain port 73 isprovided through the bottom surface of housing base member 10 to permitdrainage and recovery of fluids (gases or liquids), additives and washdebris recovered from the chamber formed by opposing V-shaped members 71and 72. Although said drain ports 63 and 73 can be open to thesurrounding environment, in most cases one or both of said drain portsare equipped with a hose (not pictured in FIG. 4) to permit collectionand/or recovery of drained materials for subsequent disposal or re-use.

FIG. 5 depicts an end view of cleaning and treating assembly 100 of thepresent invention. Lower housing base 10 is slideably mounted onmounting rails 300. Upper housing lid 20 is mounted to said lowerhousing base using hinge member 22; said upper housing lid member 20 isdepicted in an open configuration in FIG. 5.

Lateral pipe alignment guide assemblies 30 are disposed at both ends ofbox-like housing of cleaning and treating assembly 100, although onlyone of said lateral pipe guide assemblies 30 is visible in the viewdepicted in FIG. 5. Said lateral pipe alignment guide assembly 30comprises mounting brackets 31, upper guide wheel 32 and lower guidewheel 33 (both of which can be beneficially shaped with concave surfacesfor accommodating the curvature of a tubular members passing betweensaid upper and lower guide wheels). Said upper and lower guide wheelsare rotatably mounted to mounting brackets 31 using transverse axles 34.Said lateral pipe alignment guide assemblies 300 act to align and directpipe 200 entering and exiting box-like housing of cleaning and treatingassembly 100.

FIG. 6 depicts front view of cleaning and treating assembly 100 of thepresent invention with an open configuration. Continuous tubing 200passes through cleaning and treating assembly 100, while lateral pipealignment guide assemblies 30 are disposed at both ends of the box-likehousing. A plurality of substantially parallel upper baffle walls 21 aredisposed within housing lid member 20 and are oriented substantiallyperpendicular to the direction of travel of continuous tubing 200.Although not visible in FIG. 6, a plurality of substantially parallellower baffle walls 11 are disposed within housing base member 10.

Still referring to FIG. 6, mounting rails 300 are not shown for claritypurposes; however, it is to be observed that said mounting rails 300 canbe slideably received within the openings formed by lower mountingbrackets 40. In a preferred embodiment, cleaning and treating assembly100 is movable along the length of said mounting rails 300 (not depictedin FIG. 6).

Substantially V-shaped upper member 62 is mounted within a chamberformed in housing lid 20. Inlet port fitting 60 provides a fluid inletinto the space formed between said opposing V-shaped members 62 and 61(not shown in the view depicted in FIG. 6) when housing lid 20 andhousing base 10 are in a closed position. Similarly, substantiallyV-shaped upper member 72 is mounted within a chamber formed in housinglid 20. Inlet port fitting 70 provides a fluid inlet into the spaceformed between said opposing V-shaped members 72 and 71 (not shown inthe view depicted in FIG. 6) when housing lid 20 and housing base 10 arein a closed position.

As noted above, drain port 63 is provided through the bottom surface ofhousing base member 10 to permit the drainage and recovery of fluids(gases or liquids), additives and wash debris recovered from the chamberformed by opposing V-shaped members 61 and 62. Similarly, drain port 73is provided through the bottom surface of housing base member 10 topermit drainage and recovery of fluids (gases or liquids), additives andwash debris recovered from the chamber formed by opposing V-shapedmembers 71 and 72. Although said drain ports 63 and 73 can be open tothe surrounding environment as depicted in FIG. 6, in most cases one orboth of said drain ports are equipped with a hose or tube to permitcollection and/or recovery of drained materials for subsequent disposalor re-use.

In operation, cleaning and treating assembly 100 of the presentinvention can be used for cleaning, treating and inspecting tubulargoods including, without limitation, continuous tubing such as tubing200. In a preferred embodiment, closeable box-like housing of cleaningand treating assembly 100 having a linearly aligned inlet and outlet isdisposed at a desired stationary position around the outer surface ofcontinuous tubing, typically as such tubing is being re-spooled afterservice. By way of illustration, but not limitation, it is to beobserved that the present invention can be used when continuous tubingis being retrieved from a well as it is being re-spooled, or when suchcontinuous tubing is being transferred from one spool to another.

In a preferred embodiment, as continuous tubing 200 passes throughcleaning and treating assembly 100 of the present invention, said tubing200 encounters the following processes deployed in sequence. Initially,tubing 200 encounters wafer-shaped squeegee wiper element 50, which isdisposed within a desired chamber formed by opposing upper baffles walls21 and lower baffle walls 11 near the pipe inlet. In a preferredembodiment, said wiper element 50 has a central aperture beneficiallysized to receive a length of pipe yet allowing for contact with theexternal surface of said pipe in order to provide a wiping action.

As the tubing strips through said wiper element 50, it wipes and driesthe external surface of said tubing 200. Said wiper element 50 isbeneficially selected and disposed to be a snug fit around the externalsurface of tubing 200, so that substantially all of the environmentalmoisture and dirt is removed from said tubing 200 immediately prior tohigh pressure washing.

After passing through wiper element 50, tubing 200 next passes throughsaid opposing V-shaped collars providing high pressure water jetsdirected toward the external surface of tubing 200. Specifically,substantially V-shaped lower collar member 61 is mounted within achamber formed in lower housing base 10, while an opposing substantiallyV-shaped upper collar member 62 is mounted within an aligned chamberformed in housing lid 20. Inlet port fitting 60 is mounted in proximityto said V-shaped lower member 61 and provides a fluid inlet into thespace formed between said opposing V-shaped members 61 and 62. Washwater, pumped from an external reservoir or source into said spaceformed between V-shaped members 61 and 62, can be beneficiallysupplemented or replaced by other liquids such as, for example, solvent,surfactants or other beneficial cleaning solutions.

The external surface of tubing 200 is then dried by passing said tubing200 through tight-fit (typically rubber) wafer-shaped pipe wipers 51 and52. Such wipers 51 and 52, which can be oriented in sequence,beneficially remove substantially all of the external surface moistureon the tubing following said high pressure washing operation. As tubing200 strips through said wiper elements 51 and 52, it wipes and dries theexternal surface of said tubing 200. Like wiper element 50, wiperelements 51 and 52 are beneficially selected and disposed to be a snugfit around the external surface of tubing 200 to remove substantiallyall of the water and/or other liquids from the high pressure washingstage.

The external surface of tubing 200 is then further dried by subjectingsuch tubing 200 to an air-driven blow dry. In another embodiment, theair dry is supplemented with or substituted with other gas(ses), such asa nitrogen dry. Said tubing 200 passes through substantially V-shapedlower member 71 and opposing substantially V-shaped upper member 72.Inlet port fitting 70 is mounted in proximity to said V-shaped lowermember 71 and provides a fluid inlet into the space formed between saidopposing V-shaped members 71 and 72. Gas is pumped from an externalsource via inlet port fitting 70 into said chamber between opposingV-shaped members 71 and 72 and directed at the outer surface of tubing200. In this manner, the tubing is substantially dry as it passesimmediately to receive a coating of rust inhibitor, the next operation.

Tubing 200 next receives a coat of treatment solution such as, forexample, rust inhibitor. In a preferred embodiment, tubing 200 firstpasses over and through a rust inhibitor coating spray delivered by aliquid mist or other fluid applicator; and then over and throughwafer-shaped applicator elements 53 and 54, which can be industrialsponges into which the inhibitor treatment has been infused, allowingthe inhibitor material to be further wiped onto the exterior surface oftubing 200.

Tubing 200 thereafter passes over loose-fitting rubber and sponge fabricwiper elements 55 and 56, configured to remove excess rust inhibitorthat may be dripping or running off the exterior surface of tubing 200,but leaving inhibitor still smeared over the outer surface of saidtubing. It will be appreciated that the external surface of tubing 200is very dry after the blow dry. Thereafter, tubing 200 then receives therust inhibitor immediately, before any oxidation or other corrosion hashad any chance to affect the outside surface of the tubing. This featureof the inventive coil tubing box is a significant improvement overconventional pipe cleaning and treating methods, where separate anddistinct operations of washing, drying and rust-inhibiting are longer intime apart, and not done as effectively.

Accessories may also be provided for the inventive coil tubing box. Forexample, fork lift pads may be specially designed to assist moving suchcoil tubing box. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the cleaning andtreating assembly of the present invention has many possible operationalenvironments, and this disclosure is not limited to any particular one.For example, the box could be deployed in a warehouse or shop, in thefield at or near a land well or a corresponding offshore drillingstructure or remote location.

Although the present invention is described herein primarily inconnection with continuous tubing, it is to be observed that jointedpipe can be fed through a variant of the box-like housing rather thancontinuous tubing. In such alternative embodiments, the pipe could moveor the box could be caused to move; there would advantageously be noneed to rotate the pipe in such an embodiment. Additional or feweroperations could be incorporated into the self-contained apparatus ofthe present invention.

Additionally, it is to be observed that an optional pipe inspectionassembly can be beneficially used in combination with the presentinvention. For example, a modular pipe inspection assembly can beinstalled downstream of the box-like housing of the present invention,and can inspect cleaned and/or treated pipe emerging from said housing.

Additional data acquisition sensory hardware, processors, andproprietary software can be added and/or used in connection with thepresent invention to serve a dual purpose.

One such purpose is to detect and determine the relative position of thecenterline of the tubular to the centerline of the inventive enclosureof the present invention in real-time as said tubular moves through saidenclosure during cleaning and treating operations. Such data can berelayed in real-time to positioning system machinery which then adaptsto reposition said enclosure, vertically and horizontally as needed, viaan electronic control system.

Another purpose of said data acquisition sensory hardware, processorsand software is to detect and determine, in real-time, the centerline ofthe tubular, in order to rectify the relative position of the tubular asit moves through said enclosure during operations. Such data can becorrelated with the detected circumferential outer diameter dimensionsof the tubular and processed by pre-programmed algorithms to serve asmeans to inspect the surface for damages such as, but not limited to,cracks, pits, elongation, bulges, scars, and outer dimensions of thetubular as it moves through said enclosure.

In one embodiment, data is gathered via a combination of positionrectifying and distance detection lasers mounted inside the enclosurehousing onto the V-Shaped collars aimed substantially perpendicular tothe tubular at key quadrant positions in sync with grayscale imagesgathered as slices across the tubular via ultra high speed andresolution camera and ultra high luminous lights which can be mountedexternally at the outlet of the enclosure.

The above-described invention has a number of particular features thatshould preferably be employed in combination, although each is usefulseparately without departure from the scope of the invention. While thepreferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and describedherein, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise than herein specifically illustrated or described, and thatcertain changes in form and arrangement of parts and the specific mannerof practicing the invention may be made within the underlying idea orprinciples of the invention.

What is claimed:
 1. A method for cleaning and treating pipe comprising:a) passing said pipe through an enclosed housing; b) cleaning theexternal surface of said pipe within said housing; and c) applyingtreating solution to said pipe within said housing.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising drying said pipe within said housing.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said step of cleaning said pipe comprisespassing said pipe through an elastomeric wiper.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein said step of cleaning the external surface of said pipefurther comprises washing said pipe with water.
 5. The method of claim2, wherein said step of drying said pipe comprises directing gas at saidpipe.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said gas comprises air.
 7. Themethod of claim 5, wherein said gas comprises nitrogen.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said treating solution comprises rust inhibitor.
 9. Anapparatus for cleaning and treating pipe comprising: a) an enclosedhousing having an inlet and an outlet, and defining an internal spacetherebetween; b) a plurality of walls within said internal space of saidhousing defining a plurality of chambers; c) a cleaning assembly forcleaning said pipe within at least one chamber; d) a drying assembly fordrying said pipe within at least one chamber; and e) a treatmentassembly for applying at least one treatment solution to said pipewithin at least one chamber.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein saidenclosed housing further comprises: a) a base; and b) a lid hingablyattached to said base.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein saidcleaning assembly comprises at least one elastomeric wiper.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein said cleaning assembly comprises at leastone wash nozzle for directing wash fluid at said pipe.
 13. The apparatusof claim 9, wherein said drying assembly comprises at least one jet fordirecting at least one gas at said pipe.
 14. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein said treatment assembly comprises at least one sponge.
 15. Anapparatus for cleaning and treating pipe comprising: a) a housing basehaving a first end defining an inlet and a second end defining anoutlet, wherein said inlet and outlet are linearly aligned; b) a lidhingably attached to said base; c) a plurality of walls disposed withinsaid housing base, wherein said walls are oriented substantiallyperpendicular to said inlet and said outlet, and define a plurality ofchambers; d) a resilient wiper having an aperture adapted to receive alength of pipe, wherein said at least one wiper is disposed within achamber and said aperture is linearly aligned with said inlet andoutlet; e) at least one wash nozzle disposed within at least one of saidchambers; f) an inlet port in fluid communication with said at least onewash nozzle; g) at least one gas jet disposed within at least one ofsaid chambers; and h) an inlet port in fluid communication with said atleast one gas jet.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising atleast one fluid applicator within a chamber between said at least onegas jet and said outlet.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said atleast one fluid applicator comprises at least one sponge having anaperture adapted to receive a length of pipe, wherein said aperture islinearly aligned with said inlet and outlet.
 18. The apparatus of claim16, further comprising a wiper element disposed within a chamber betweensaid fluid applicator and said outlet.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15further comprising: a) a data acquisition system for sensing andrelaying real-time data regarding positioning of tubing disposed throughsaid housing base; and b) a positioning system for adjusting theposition of said base relative to said tubing in response to datareceived from said data acquisition system.
 20. The apparatus of claim15, further comprising an inspection assembly for gauging the outerdiameter of pipe disposed within said housing base comprising: a) aplurality of laser sensors directed at said pipe; b) at least one ultrahigh speed and resolution camera; and c) at least one amplified, ultrahigh luminous light device.